Glycosaminoglycan components in temporomandibular joint synovial fluid as markers of joint pathology.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the correlation between temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease and the composition of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) components in the synovial fluid (SF).


METHODS
Synovial fluid (SF) was obtained from 30 TMJs of 28 female patients diagnosed as having a displaced disc with reduction (WR) (seven joints), a displaced disc without reduction (WOR) (13 joints), osteoarthritis (OA) (five joints), or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (five joints) by MR imaging and clinical examination. After the SF was directly aspirated, It was digested with chondroitinase ABC and hyaluronidase, and the concentration of unsaturated disaccharide isomers of chondroitin 6-sulfate (delta di-6S), chondroitin 4-sulfate (delta di-4S) and hyaluronic acid (delta di-HA) were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with fluorometry. The ratio of delta di-6S or delta di-4S to delta di-HA, and delta di-6S to delta di-4S, were calculated.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in concentrations of delta di-6S, delta di-4S, or delta di-HA among the groups. The ratio of delta di-6S to delta di-4S was 2.7 +/- 1.4 in OA, 2.6 +/- 0.9 in joints with WOR, 2.9 +/- 1.2 in joints with WR, and 1.3 +/- 0.4 in RA synovial fluid. Differences in the delta di-6S: delta di-4S ratio between RA and the other conditions were statistically significant (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the delta di-6S:delta di-4S ratio in the synovial fluid of the TMJ reflects the proteoglycan metabolism of the joint tissues, particularly of the articular cartilage and synovial tissue. This ratio could be used to diagnose joint diseases and to predict articular cartilage destruction or synovial proliferation caused by these diseases.
Shibata
T
T
Department of Dentistry and Oral Surgery, School of Medicine, Yamagata University, Iidanishi, Japan.
Murakami
K I
KI
Kubota
E
E
Maeda
H
H
D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005470:Fluorometry; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019152:Paracentesis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019224:Temporomandibular Joint Disc / Q000473:pathology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D004187:Disaccharides; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates